Why is the Los Angeles Dolphin Project important?

1. Lack of data on cetaceans in the Santa Monica Bay

Very little is known about cetaceans of the Los Angeles waters even though our waters are highly frequented by marine mammals. The L.A. Dolphin Project is the first long-term longitudinal study on cetaceans and pinnipeds ever conducted in these waters. The data collection on various species of marine mammals represents an important bridge between the information on these animals collected in Southern (mostly San Diego coastline) and Northern (Monterey Bay area) California.

2. Understanding El Niño and its effects on cetaceans in the study area

The L.A.D.P. was conducted before, during, and after the strong 1997-98 El Niño event. Scientific data collected throughout these years of elevated surface water temperature, represent a valuable opportunity to investigate likely indirect changes in cetacean spatial and temporal distribution, seasonality, relative abundance and species composition.

3. Santa Monica Bay is an excellent platform to study aggregations between cetaceans and pinnipeds

The bay represents an exceptional area in which to study local association between dolphins and sea lions, and their respective or combined foraging behavior. Feeding ecology can have a significant role in conservation of marine mammals, helping to define a species habitat and the resources necessary for their sustenance. Multi-species aggregations and multi-species foraging strategies are mentioned in literature but the phenomenon has not yet been explained in detail, particularly for mixed-schools of cetaceans and pinnipeds.

4. Conservation issues in the highly impacted Los Angeles waters

Dolphins represent apex predators in a coastal ecosystem exceptionally sensitive to fluctuations of temperature, with corresponding changes in the populations of zooplankton and fish. Gathering data on dolphins, known as reliable bio-indicators of the status of the environment, and monitoring trends in their populations, is an excellent way of protecting all marine organisms living in the local ecosystem, as well as the ecosystem itself. A better understanding of the marine mammal habitat use is important in planning effective conservation strategies for these animals.

The L.A. Dolphin Project is also planning to:

• provide and publish scientific information leading to the development of a long-term conservation and management strategy for marine mammals in the Santa Monica Bay;
• provide opportunities to students in the area of Marine Biology and Oceanography through internship programs in association with local schools and Universities;
• increase public awareness of the existence of dolphins off the Los Angeles coastline and the problems facing them through the production and dissemination of educational videos, publications, and the participation in local events and festivals.

Methodology

Ocean surveys are conducted weekly from Marina del Rey, California. All inshore and offshore surveys are carried out during daylight hours from a 10-m powerboat with two 250 hp outboard engines. Animals are photographed for photo-identification, videotaped for studying their behavior and association between different species. Behavioral data are also entered into a database program during the sightings. Surveys are carried out under a research permit from the National Marine Fisheries Service.

Results (see Scientific Abstract)

Project Significance in Conservation

Environmental conservation can be achieved most effectively when the status of an ecosystem is scientifically quantified. Establishing an environmental "baseline" and studying the variables and trends existing within that ecosystem, is the most essential tool in the long-term management of our natural resources. This project produces scientific data that will serve as foundation for future conservation plans in the delicate environment of the Santa Monica Bay.

Project Time Frame

This long-term project was started in 1996 and has logged over 800 hours in the field. While the minimum term for the study was set at five years (the deadline of my Ph.D. work at UCLA), the L.A.D.P. will continue for a term of ten years.

Field research team and roles

The research crew generally consists of driver, data recorder, videographer, photographer, and observers.

Maddalena Bearzi,Ph.D.

• L.A.D.P. Director
• Research supervisor, photographer, marine mammal behavior observer

Charles Saylan, Captain

• L.A.D.P. Research Associate, II photographer, videographer, boat captain

Karyn Jones, Shana Rapaport

• L.A.D.P. Research Assistants, videographers, database entries

Daphne Osell

• L.A.D.P. Research Assistant, III photographer

Michael Cooper, Adriana Huff, Lisa Openshaw

• L.A.D.P. Research Assistants, marine mammal behavior observers

Additional past and current volunteers with experience and training are the followings:

Andrea Bachman, Hiroko Asano, Paul Ahuja, Jennifer Bass, Peter Mendel, Wes Merrill, Mallory Mattox, Travis Davis, Debra Jacobson, Joanna Arlekiuwicz, Lisa Openshaw, Brigitte Steinmetz, Michela Giusti, Michelle Sweeney, Silvia Papparello, Tricia Kepner, Lei Lani Stelle, Bettina Lynch, Irene Diep, Andrea Cardinali.

Support

The Los Angeles Dolphin Project is mostly supported by Ocean Conservation Society, fellowships & grants, private donors (thanks to M. Saylan for her help!), and members of The Museum of Natural History of Los Angeles County.

Information

You can help the L.A.D.P. to continue its long-term research and protect the marine mammals of the Santa Monica Bay, making a tax-free donation to the non-profit Ocean Conservation Society (P.O. Box 12860, Marina del Rey, CA 90295).

For more information, please contact the Project Director, Dr. M. Bearzi, at: mbearzi@earthlink.net.

To know more about the L.A.D.P. you can check the CNN transcripts:
http://edition.cnn.com/2000/NATURE/02/23/dolphin.data/

http://www.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0009/24/wr.05.html http://www.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0004/17/nr.00.html

"The best way to help these animals to survive us is to understand them better. Through the information that we gain, we can learn about their health, their populations, the health of our marine ecosystem and the effects we have on their habitat"

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